Tomb Raider III Press Documents (1998)
TOMB RAIDER III
Adventures of Lara Croft
When the sailors reached the altar where the meteorite was still locked into the earth, they found and unwittingly looted the four artefacts placed there… One of these sailors kept a journal as they headed back to England. Only he was to make it home.
Present Day
The research company started to make excavations deeper into the ice. Readings taken from the rock indicated traces of a previously unknown material. This material appeared to have the potential to multiply and alter hock genes – the genes which determine the make-up of living organisms. These alterations were therefore capable of evolving a greater diversity of life.
Within this rock were the next most important findings in genetics and evolution since Darwin – a progression that he ironically just missed when they uncovered the body of a European, perfectly preserved in the ice. Scratched on his tombstone was the name of the boat he sailed on. Following this information, they located the shipmate’s journal and set about searching for the artefacts lost by the sailors…
Lara, meanwhile is in India searching for one of these artefacts. Unaware of its true history, she only knows that in local beliefs it was supposed to hold great powers and has been revered by tribes there throughout the years…
And so the adventure begins…
Product Overview:
Tomb Raider III combines the best elements of its two predecessors:
- Tomb Raider’s atmosphere, vast locations, puzzle-solving and exploration elements.
- Tomb Raider II’s action and use of vehicles.
The combination of these elements offers the player an environment that features more of a 50-50 balance between exploration and action elements.
Tomb Raider III’s non-linear levels present the player with more than one route to complete each level. There is also a new structure for the order of gameplay: Tomb Raider III contains 5 separate ‘adventures’ which link together. After completing the first adventure, the following three may be played in any order, before the fifth level brings the game to its conclusion. A new save-game system has also been implemented, offering ‘easy’ and ‘difficult’ options.
Improved artificial intelligence allows more sophisticated combat techniques since enemies react far more realistically – they may even run away when initially approached. It is now possible to sneak past some of the enemies and duck behind objects whilst shooting.
As well as a completely new landscape system that allows far greater detail than the previous games, Tomb Raider III incorporates a variety of new elements such as multi-coloured lighting, weather effects and more realistic execution for flames, explosions and water surfaces. All elements have been designed to give the game more depth and the player more satisfaction!
Main technical improvements:
- Multi-coloured lighting.
- Improved Dynamic lighting.
- Improved enemy AI.
- New landscape system (incorporating triangles) for smoother surfaces and architectural structures such as domes, arches, vaulted ceilings. Organic structures and rocky floors are possible with the new system.
- Improved texture palettes for greater detail.
- Improved water effects (rippling, transparent water) and new reflection effects.
- Faster game engine.
- Semi-transparencies on any surface e.g. shafts of light.
- PlayStation Specific: Hi-Res (from 384 x 240 to 512 x 240). Supports Dual Shock Analogue Pad.
New moves:
- Dash : Lara will have the ability to dash at high speed for several seconds, allowing
her to avoid time-based traps.
- Dash & Dive : A dive is addea after the dash to enable Lara to leap through closing doors
etc.
- Duck : Lara can duck to avoid flying missiles.
- Duck & Crawl : Lara can proceed forward and backwards in the crawl position.
- Monkey Swing : A jump and grab will enable Lara to swing around certain parts of the
levels.
- Door try if locked : Lara will attempt to open a locked door by repeatedly turning the handle
and shoving it (instead of simply saying NO)
- Swimming strafe : To make swimming underwater more controllable, a strafe move is included
- Wall jump : Instead of colliding with a wall whilst jumping, more skilful players will be
able to wall jump backwards.
- Push & Shove : Lara will be able to shove/barge through certain doors and scenery eg. Kick
down weak doors.
- Rope Swing : The rope swing will be similar to the death slide, in that Lara will be able to
hold the rope, swing and release at any time.
- Water currents : These will affect Lara whilst she swims on or under water.
Improved existing moves:
- 180 degree Spin : This will be simplified to the standard roll whilst standing.
- Throw : An under-arm log will replace the existing movement.
Cosmetic enhancements:
- Leaves blowing around the floor areas.
- Footsteps in snow and sand.
- Weather effects such as snow, wind and rain.
- Effects such as fog, mist and darkness.
- Birds flying around certain environments.
- Particle-system for in-game flame effects.
- New costumes for Lara.
For further information contact:
Susie Hamilton
PR Manager
Core Design Ltd
55 Ashbourne Road
Derby DE22 3FS
England
Tel 00 44 1332 297797
Fax 00 44 1332 381511
susie@core-design.com
French version
TOMB RAIDER III : Les nouvelles aventures de Lara Croft
Développeur : Core Design
PC et PlayStation
Fin 98
Ne pouvant décevoir ses fans, Lara Croft revient pour un 3ème épisode qui surpasse encore ses précédentes aventures. Lara va une nouvelle fois parcourir le globe, du désert du Nevada aux îles du pacifique sud. En plus de nouvelles tenues et de nouveaux véhicules, que vous découvrirez bien assez tôt, Tomb Raider III comportera de nombreuses améliorations techniques. Suspense…
CARACTERISTIQUES
- Le moteur du jeu bénéficie de nombreuses améliorations, notamment au niveau du détail des décors.
- Nouveaux effets de transparence et d’ombres
- Intelligence Artificielle des ennemis de Lara
- Nouveaux effets de lumière dynamiques et colorés
- De nombreux nouveaux mouvements pour Lara
- Une structure du jeu différente : le joueur peut choisir l’ordre des niveaux
- Graphismes haute-résolution pour la 1ère fois sur PlayStation
- Compatible avec la manette Dual Shock (manette vibrante) sur PlayStation
German version
Titel: Tomb Raider III – Die neuen Abenteuer der Lara Croft
Entwickler: Core Design
Format: PC und PlayStation
Erscheint: Viertes Quartal 1998
Überblick
Lara Croft kann ihre Fans einfach nicht enttäuschen und kehrt in einer dritten Folge zurück, die ihre beiden ersten Abenteuer mit Leichtigkeit in den Schatten stellt. Dieses Action-Adventure schickt Lara wieder einmal rund um den Globus, von den Wüsten Nevadas bis zu den Inseln im Südpazifik. Neben den zu erwartenden neuen Outfits und zusätzlichen Fahrzeugen bietet Tomb Raider III eine riesige Auswahl überraschender Elemente, technischer Verbesserungen und atemberaubender Features.
Features
- Überarbeitete Engine mit einem neuen Landscaping-System für bessere Geländedarstellung.
- Ein neues Reflexionssystem für realistischere Darstellung transparenter Gegenstände und Schatten.
- Eine noch anspruchsvollere künstliche Intelligenz für Laras zahlreiche Feinde.
- Erstaunliche Wettereffekte inklusive Regen, Schnee und Nebel.
- Verbesserte dynamische Lichttechnik und mehrfarbige Beleuchtungseffekte für atmosphärische Darstellung der Umgebung.
- Eine Menge neuer Bewegungen für Lara, darunter ein Hochgeschwindigkeitsspurt, um aus brenzligen Situationen zu entkommen.
- Eine neue Spielstruktur, die es dem Spieler ermöglicht, sich die Reihenfolge, in der er die Level spielen möchte, selbst auszusuchen.
- Hochauflösenden Grafikdarstellung zum ersten Mal auf der PlayStation
- Unterstützt Dual Shock Analog Controller für die PlayStation
Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie von Sascha Green-Kaiser bei
Eidos Interactive (Deutschland) GmbH in Hamburg.
Telefon: 040/ 85 17 15 34, Telefax: 040/ 85 17 15 70.
VIACOM CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND ‘TOMB RAIDER: THE MOVIE’ TEAM UP FOR LIVE-ACTION ADVENTURE
Cyber heart-throb, Lara Croft, leaps from the computer screen
to the Big screen in her next Tomb Raider adventure!
NEW YORK: Licensing ’98 International Show - Lara Croft, curvaceous, courageous superstar of the most successful gaming franchise in the world attracts more attention than any other licensing act, destroying the competition with her first appearance on the Paramount/Viacom booth!
Viacom Consumer products, the licensing division for Paramount Pictures, announced at the licensing show last week, that 'Tomb Raider: The Movie' is currently scheduled for a late 1999 release.
‘Lara Croft and Tomb Raider have it all’, commented Andrea Hein, president, at the opening of the show. ‘This is a property filled with strong story lines, and which has had outstanding consumer response to the games and products associated with it. Lara’s strong-standing in pop culture and the talented production team signed to the live-action feature show all the indications of ‘Tomb Raider’ as a huge licensing hit!’
Viacom Consumer Products merchandises properties on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, Simon and Schuster and Viacom Productions as well as third-party properties. Viacom Inc. is one of the world’s largest entertainment and publishing companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace.
